Prized for its beautiful appearance, toughness and flexibility, ash is the ideal wood for fitted and free-standing furniture. A native English species, it has been used for centuries in traditional furniture making and in more specialist applications such as sports equipment and car chassis. Its flexibility and straight grain make it one of the best woods for forming curved components such as the backs of Windsor chairs.

Appearance
Waney edge boards of ash will be supplied with wane (bark) on one or two edges.

The sap wood of ash is indistinguishable from the heart wood which ranges in colour from pale cream to light straw, with occasional small black mineral streaks.

The flat cut boards are particularly attractive because of their unusual flowery patterns while the straight grained centre boards, although less visually appealing, are prized for their workability and bending capacity.

Ash trees will often develop a barrel of darker ‘olive’ coloured wood around their heart which, in older trees, can develop to become a large proportion of the heart wood which is highly desirable because of its decorative properties.

To avoid disappointment please make an appointment before arriving at either yard to select sawn timber.

Technical Specification

Common name

Ash

Family

Oleaceae

Genus

Fraxinus excelsior

Unit of sale

M3 (Cubic meters) (1M3 = 35.315 Ft3)

Kiln dried weight

Approx 710 KG / M3

Specification

Supplied in waney edge sawn boards
Width range: 150mm – 250mm +

Dimensions

Description

Board
thickness (mm)

Board
thickness (“)

Kiln dried boards

27 / 32 / 41 / 54 / 65

1 / 1¼ / 1½ / 2 / 2½

Kiln dried boards

80 / 100

3 / 4

Moisture content

Description

Board
thickness (mm)

Moisture
content

Kiln dried Boards

27 – 54

10 – 14%

Kiln dried Boards

65 – 100

12 – 18%

Durability

BS EN350-2. Non durable. Perishable

Workability

+ Easy to work. High capacity for bending and shaping– Can spring after cutting

Grades available

English ash is available in the following grades but please note that not all thicknesses are available in all the grades:

First Joinery
This is our standard joinery grade where only occasional knots up to 40mm diameter are accepted. The grain may be slightly angled and some colour variation is likely. Larger knots and defects will be measured out. Centre splits are accepted but a suitable reduction in measure will be applied.Accepted: Grain deviation, occasional knots up to 40mm, olive colouring. Other isolated defects if measured out.Not accepted: Curly grain, rot, bark pockets, excessive worm attack.

Second framing
This grade is suitable for the frames of covered furniture where strength is more important than visual appeal. Knots and defects are accepted providing there is a good proportion of cutting available. Centre splits are accepted but a suitable reduction in measure will be applied.Accepted: All knots and defects.Not accepted: Rot, excessive worm attack.

To avoid disappointment please make an appointment before arriving at either yard to select sawn timber.